Police Will Prowl For Drunken Drivers This Weekend

Police will be out in force hunting for drunken drivers during the Labor Day weekend, when 30 people are expected to be killed in road accidents in Florida, the Florida Highway Patrol said Tuesday.

The estimate is for the 78 hours beginning at 6 p.m. Friday and ending at midnight Monday.

About half the deaths are expected to be alcohol-related, said Chuck Williams of the FHP.

Troopers will be out in force at night searching for drunken drivers. The Orange County Sheriff's Office will be working closely with the FHP.

The traffic enforcement unit of the Orlando Police Department also will be looking for drunken drivers and other traffic offenders, and will be backed up by regular patrol officers, said OPD Capt. Dan Wilson.

Motorists who notice drunken drivers should get a description and report them to the highway patrol or other police, Williams said.

Last year, the FHP predicted 34 deaths for the Labor Day holiday, but there were only 21.

''The number of people killed in accidents has generally been lower than what we've predicted in recent holidays,'' Williams said.

In 1980, 45 people were killed as a result of Labor Day traffic accidents, compared with 33 in 1981, 37 in 1982 and 27 in 1983.

Between 450 and 550 people may die in traffic accidents across the country over the weekend, according to the National Safety Council. The council also estimates that as many as 23,000 may suffer disabling injuries.